Carbonated water dispenser



Oct. 5, 1948. w. c. Bun-NER E1' AL cARBoN'ATED WATER DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, .1944

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. C. BUTTNER ET AL CARBONATED WATER DISPENSER Oct. 5, 1948.

Filed Jan. 17, 1944 Oct 5. 1948. w. c. BuTTNl-:R er AL 2,450,825

CARBONATED WATER DlSPENSER Filed Jan. 17, 1944 S Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 5, n1948 CARBONATED WATER DISPENSER YWilliam C. Buttner, Winnetka, and Harlow E.

Allshouse, Chicago, Ill., assignors to The Bastian-Blessing Go.,Chicago, Ill., a corporation Vof Illinois applicati@ January 17, 1944, serial N0. 518,528 1 Claim. [(01. 261-1'15) 1 The present invention relates to refrigeration cabinets and more particularly to the carbonation of water under conditions conducive to the absorption of CO2 Without condensation of mois# ture in a liquid level control that might short cycle the operation of the water supply pump.

lIn carbonating water, it has been the usual practice to agitate water by a paddle in an atmosphere of high pressure CO2 tor accomplish a commingling which would accelerate absorption of the :CO2 into the water.

`,To-drive the paddle involves many moving parts, and, aside from `expensive packings on the paddle shaft, the device generates heat and entails too large a device for it to be placed in exl pensively maintained refrigerating space.Vv

Moreover, in order to Yutilize, a single prime mover.- for pumping the water against the CO2 pressure head and for driving the paddle, theV prime mover is generally mounted lproximate to the container where, if the carbonatorfwere to be refrigerated, the motor would be subjected to` deleterious conditions such as condensation and possiblefrost incrustation. Y' Y v o In the present invention a new andimproved arrangement is provided in which the carbonator is small, quite simple, and very rugged in construction with no moving parts involved, but'v which in rcombination with a refrigerated come` partment utilizes the chill thereof to accelerate the absorption and the content vof CO2 in the water -as well as affording a substantial reserve supply of cooled carbonated water as a standby for the rush hour mixing of refreshments.

Furthermore, the present invention includes an improved arrangement of parts by which short cyclings of-operation are eliminated which4 here tofore occurred when` condensation bridged the electrodes controlling the cycle of operation of the pump motor.

A further object of the invention resides in the prevention of CO2 being blown back into the fresh water supply main if pump check valves happen to leak or be. stuck in open position.

These being among the objects of the present invention, other and further objects will appear from the drawings, the description relating thereto and the appended claims:

Fig..1 is` a side elevation of two floors of a soda fountain establishment, partially in section, showing how the invention is utilized with a soda fountainy having an ice cream cooling cabinet.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the carbonator shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken upon the line 3-f-3 in Fig. 4 is a section vtaken upon the line 4 4 in Fig. 2, land f Fig. 5 is a section taken upon the line 5--5 in Fig. 2 with the section shown in Fig. 2 relating to same taken upon the angled line of 2-v-'2 in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, an ice cream cabinet IU is shown in Fig. 1 where it rests upon the floor vIl and includes as a part thereof two carbonated water draft armsY I2 'sup-r plied vvith carbonated water through a conduit I 3. Jars for syrup Vused in mixing carbonated beverages are located at Ill in the jar 'rail below and in front of whichV are refrigerated compartments I5 for ice cream and other ingredients used in the beverages. The compartments I5 are accessible in part through doors I6. InV these' refrigerating compartments the temperatures are kept atrdifferent levels. In the ice cream storing, compartments the temperature is below the freezing point of water, while in a cooling cabinet where other ingredients are stored the temperature is within a range of 33 to 40 F. v V i Disposed in one of the cooling compartments,- indicated at I5, a container I6, preferably of stainless steel is mounted upon a pedestal I1 and supplied with fresh water from a water main I8 las pumped by an electric motor driven pump 20 thorugh a pipe 22. The pipe 22 extendsthroug'h the bottom wall 23 of the cabinet and is connected to the pedestal I1. Carbon 'dioxide r(CO2) Aisl supplied to the container I6 from a tank 24 ata 3 pressure reduced and controlled by a pressure regulator 25 whose outlet isv connected to a conduit means 26 also connected preferably to the pedestal Il.l The tank 24 isshown as disposed in the basement upon the cellar oor 21 where it is ac'- cessiblewithout occupying much needed space upon the floor above.

yThe motor and pump 2li are powered through an extension cord 28 plugged into a conventional outlet receptacle 3c located under the drainboard and washtable 3l of the cabinet. The motorcontrol itself comprises a gauge glass device 32 Y(Fig. 2) as more particularly disclosed in the Arndt Patent No. 2,303,716 and an application for Let-V ters Patent led November l1, 1940, by'Willi'am C. Buttner, Serial No. 363,951, nowV Patent'. #2,356,119, dated August 15, 1944, reference to which is hereby made. Y The container l5 constitutesY acombination carbonator and carbonatedk water storage'cham'-A i' ber made preferably of two shells 33 and 34 marginally anged at their edges to meet and provide an external V groove in which a weld 36 is made to join the shells in sealed relation. At the sides, as more particularly shown in Fig. 3 the shells are ilattened and perforated as at 31 to receive in welded relationship threaded nipples 38 bywhichthe container maybe connected to the gauge glass 32. At the bottom the container is flanged and apertured as at 51 to provide an opening for mounting and affording access to the interior of the container as will `be described in further detail later.

The connection to the gaugeglass is accomplished through a nipple 40 received in an opening 4| in the wall 42 of the cabinet I0 where it extends through a thick layer of insulation I9.

The nipple is anged as at 43,1torest against the` inner metal sheathing 29 of the cabinet Wall 42 and a clamping nut is threaded on the opposite end to rest againstthe outer sheathing 39 of the-wall 42. 'Preferably on the outerY end the passageway through the nipple 43 is enlargedto receive a normally open ball check valve assembly 41 which closes with an excess flow of lfluidr'in the direction of the gauge glass 32.

As will be seen in Fig. 2 the connection just described-is duplicated at vertically spaced points, which points are determined as being above the maximum level and below the minimum level of the water in the container I8. The gauge glass 32r is secured to the threaded v'outer ends 5|] of thenipples by means of union nuts '5| and washers 52. The inner Ythreaded end 53 ofthe nipple 48 isfsecured to the nipple 38 by means of an elbowf 54 and unionnuts '55 at each end thereof with washers 56 provided forvpurposes of establishing leak-proof joints.

At the lower endofthecontainer i'the-opening 51, already mentioned, receives male YandV female membersl and-6|, respectively-held together by a union nut B2 with a sealing'washer 63 disposed therebetween.

.It is .preferred Athat lt-he male .member '60 be made lof sufficient length vand provided with iianges 64 at the bottom so that itmay serve as the pedestal identiedby thenumeral I1, which pedestalis .bolted to'the bottom of thecabinet 5 byfmeans of bolts '.65 ifdesired-'although 'thebolts mayfbe ornitted'if` there is Vdanger of` condensation reaching the cabinetfinsulation through the bolt holes'. .Asidefromthe conduits which'lead1 tothe gauge glass 32` allcommunication with the interior ofithe containerisxhadby passageways drilled through the malemember 6.0. Oneof thesepassageways is the water inletpassageway 1.5'supplied from the conduit 22secured toanipple that is threadedfinto thepedestal |1 asfat'fl. The nipple 66 is provided with a back 4fiow check valve 68 at `its inner endV which comprises a washer 10 made .of an elastomer and held in place by 'a screw 1| having a cylindrical shank-portion 12 upon `which the washer'may 'slide to 'and from its seating position to close the passageways "13 drilled through the nipple 6.6.

Around the valve 68 the pedestal' is cut away to provide an enlarged valve Vcompartment 14 from which the passageway '15 leads upwardly to terminate in an enlarged threadedopening 16 at the upper end of the male member 60. A riser pipe 11 is. received in the threadedv opening 16 to extend upwardly at the center ofthe container IS to receive a nozzle 18 thereon which is provided with spray passageways 80 to break up the water forced through them into a fine spray, The nozzle preferably directs the spray upwardly and against the walls of the container.

CO2 is supplied to the container through another passageway 8| (Fig. 4) in the male member 60. This passageway leads upwardly and opens into the container at the upper end of the male member 6D. The connection of the CO2 line V26 to the pedestal 'I1 is hadthrough a nipple 82 also provided with a back fiow'check valve 83 therein having a piston like head 84 which carries a resilient seat 85 against the rounded edge of a short piece of cylindrical tubing 86 brazed into the inner end of the nipple 82. The shank k89 of the valve 83 extends outwardly to receive a compression spring 81 that is held in place by a nut 83 threaded upon the shank 89. With this arrangement for the CO2 supply, water will not be forced back into the line 26 in event the pressure in the container is higher than the pressure vof the CO2 or when one tank 24 is being disconnected to be replaced byla full tank of CO2. Furthermore, the passagewayY 81| with. its opening on the Aupper end of the male member '.60 will re lease the CO2 in the container .I6 where-itwill bubble up through the water with a commingling benecial to absorption to carbonate the water.

The carbonated water is withdrawn .from the fresh water passageway 'l'arein'communication with each other througha passageway .S3-which interconnects the valve compartment y11|Y andthe opening into which the valve 9| is threaded. -A apper'checkvalvegilll is located in the valve com partment 14 where it is held insplace by screws.

95 having cylindrical shanks so that: 'the 4flapper check will operate easily and prevent the fresh water from going directly to the*v carbonated line when the pump 2D is in operation, but willpermlt thelcarbonated water tomove from-the container' back into .the fresh water line-past the dapper check valve 94 in event a leak exists whichper mits. a backfow of thewater in to thezfresh watery line '222.

AS more particularlyshown in Atheabove mentioned copending applicationl Buttnerv Serial No.'363,951, reference to which is made, the gauge glass 32 comprises the hydroelectrode control having two electrodes, one .of which H11 is contacted by the liquid at, the maximumlevel-of the water 'in the container [Gland theotherone,4 |5215,

breaks with the liquidat the lowestyexpectedlevel of the water in the Vcontainer IB. The.upper elec trode H1 is connected directly to Ian electrical control, such as that shown in the'WarrickiPa-tent No. 2,1110g313, reference to whichis herebymade, through the lead |21, and the lower lectrodeis connectedby a lead |28 'to a switch-whichshort circuits the `electrodes when the electrical control is in open position as 'far asvthe motor operation is concerned. The liquid'l D0 is groundedthrough an upwardly extending electrode `|3|.

The glass gauge 32 more 'specifically comprises van outer cylindrical` metal housingjl 32 havingfa window aperture |29 therein and an inner glassJ tube -I |'9-mounted between two `end members .|33-

and |34 in sealedrelationship therewith vby resilient washers |35. Y'-IheV end members are internally threaded as at |0| andrthe cylindrical ymetal housing is threaded at its ends whereby a clamp'- ing pressure is exerted between the end members |33 and |34 against the ends of the glass tube IIB to compress the seals |35. The lower end mem ber 34 is provided with a recess I 31 which is connected to the container below the minimum expected level of the water therein by a union nut as already described. The upper member |33 is threaded asI at |43 to receive an insulating plug |44 against the shoulder |45. The plug |44 has a shoulder mating with the shoulder |45 with a gasket |5| disposed between them to provide a sealed joint.

The electrodes ||1 and |26 are carried by the plug |44 and comprise inserts |53 which are threaded at opposite ends and embedded in the plug body. The upper ends ofy the inserts |53 receive theterminal screws |55 which secure the wire leads |27 and |28 to the respective electrodes and the other ends of the inserts |53 support interchangeable contacts to receive the electrodes Hl and |25 having carbon` buttons |62 upon the bottom thereof.

In operation, when the electrical extension |23 is plugged into the outlet Si) the electrical control |59 is in closed position to operate the motor and pump 2S. If the level of the water in the container is below and out of contact with the carbon button |52 upon the lower end ofthe electrode |25 the pump will immediately begin to withdraw water from the main I8 and force it into the container 'I5 thr-ough the riser pipe 'il and spray head 18.

with the co2 supplied to the container through the line 26 as regulated by the pressure regulator 25, the water sprayed from the head 18 comes into contact with CO2 to absorb a large quantity thereof. After the level of the water has approached the level of the spray ports 8B the water comes in contact with the button |52 upon the lower end of the electrode ||'I to actuate the control |09 to stop the pump.

After the carbonator has once been placed in operation the carbonated water present in the container I6 is chilled down to the temperature of the compartment |5 which preferably is within the temperature range of from 33 to 40 F.

Thereafter, when carbonated water is withdrawn from the Vcontainer 6 the level of the water falls until it breaks with the carbon button |62 upon the electrode |26 and the pump 2i) repeats the cycle of filling the container |6 to its maximum level. The replenishing water may be pre-cooled in a separate cooler. On flowing through the pedestal I? and riser pipe 'il it will be chilled by the coldness of the surrounding parts and the carbonated water surrounding the riser pipe 1'! to a low temperature which is beneficial to the rapid absorption of the cold CO2 gas present in the top of the container I6.

Furthermore, as the water level falls the CO2 above it expands thereby reducing its pressure and permitting more CO2 to enter the container to maintain the pressure determined by the regulator 25. Then, when the rep-lenishing begins the liquid level rises which under other conditions would compress and increase the pressure of CO2. The CO2 is rapidly absorbed and more required, whereby the pressure in the container can be maintained uniform at al1 times by adjustment of the regulator 25, and the adjustment is sufficiently low toavoid an over carbonation at any time which is undesirable with root beer syrups.

'Ihe cold carbonated water moves back and forth into the gauge glass 32 as the liquid level rises and falls in the'containervv 6. s the level rises cold water is carried into the gauge glass 32 to lower the temperature thereof by conduction l and since the vwater thus introduced" into the gauge glass is colder than its surrounding parts, condensation will take place upon the water itself. Otherwise, the upper end member |33 will take the temperature of the room to which it is leX- posed and the glass i9 will be sufficiently slow in conducting lowered temperatures that very little if any condensation will take place above the rising level of the water in the gauge glass. The lower member |34, however, will chill and condensation will take place on the outer portion thereof ifthere is any humidity present in the room air with which the gauge glass is in contact externally. In any event, since the gauge glass itself will be warmer than the Water in it, and the room temperature will be warmer than the gauge glass, little if any -condensation will take place inside of the gauge'glass to form dropletstwhich might bridge the electrodes and cause a short cycling ofthe motor control |59. The temperature differential relationship in the gauge glass will be conducive to a dryness'of the inside wall of the gauge glass around the electrodes and at the top thereof since they are subjected to warmer tem peratures.

Whenever, the pump 29 is shut down if there is any tendency to leak back through the water line 22, the leak is so controlled as to involve only carbonated water and not CO2 gas. In understanding this, it will be noted that if the passage- Way 93 interconnecting the water line and the carbonated water line is absent, the pressure of the CO2 at the nozzles 80 will be effective to force the water present in the riser pipe Tl down and back into the water line 22 with the gas escaping through th-e pump and into the washer main |8 to cause such undesirable results as carbonated water coming from some other faucet supplied by the water main 8. This danger is eliminated by the invention. The passageway 93 maintains a level of the Water in the riser pipe 'Vl constant with that of the carbonated water in the container I5, or, approached another Way, the entire body of liquid present in the container I6 must be forcedout and into the water main through the passage y93 before discharge of CO2 in its gaseous form will take place into the water main I8. -How ever, before this occurs the lowering level of the carbonated water in the container I6 outside of the riser pipe 'I1 as well as inside the riser pipe will break contact with the carbon button |62 upon the electrode |26 and start the pump up again. Therefore, without any danger of CO2 entering the water main I8 the pump recycles itself if there is any leak back through it, with the opportunity that during the recycling opertalon any valves that might stick will free themselves --and close. The quantity of carbonated water involved in this instance is comparatively small and little. if any, CO2 gas will be lost even though it may be prone to bubble while in the conduit 22. Suitable safe relief valves and gauges may be provided as desired.

In event it is necessary to service the gauge glass the union nuts 5| are removed with the check valves 41 closing to prevent escape of water or gas through the nipples 40. Thereafter, a new gauge glass can be substituted or the old one repaired and remounted merely by again tightening the union nuts 5|. In event the carbonator is to be serviced the hand valve 9| is closed, the union nuts upon the gauge glass re-` moved and also the clamp nuts 45, thereafter the nipples 49 are Withdrawn from the opening 5 I in the wall of the cabinet after the bolts 65 have been loosened and the conduits I3, 22 and y23 disconnected from the pedestal I'I. Thereafter, once the carbonator is removed from the cabinet I the pressure supply in the container I6 .can .be released and the container drained by opening the valve QI. This arrangement makes it possible to remove the container IB and the pedestal Without spilling any water inside the cabinet. If the container is emptied, it can be removed by loosening merely the union nut v(i2 without disturbing the pedestal and connections, The union nut 62 can then be loosened and the male member 4.0 slipped downwardly to Withdraw the riser pipe 'Il and the spray head 7,8 thereon from the interior ofthe container. With the parts thus disassembled any repairs can be made which are required and the carbonator readily reassembled and restored to its normal position by reversing the process.

Having thus described the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art that the device can Vbe easily installed initially and various modifications can be made depending upon the size and shape of the cabinet and upon the requirements for making installations in cabinets of diierent Sizes, Without departing from the spirit of the invention, the Ascope of which is commensurate with the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a carbonated Water dispensing device, a cabinet .having a cooling chamber therein whose temperature is Vbelovv'60 F., a container disposed in said chamber and vconnected to a source of CO2 under-pressure, a gauge glass connected to said container and disposed outside of said chamber; `means for supplying the container with water under pressure including a pump, a water level responsive device disposed in. said gauge glass, and a spray nozzle connected to the outlet of the pump, said nozzle being located in said container above the maximum Water level in the container determined by said Water level responsive device.

WILLIAM C. BU'IINER.

HARLOW E. ALLSHOUSE.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file vof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

